What is power? Power has been the demise of leaders, empires, and the cause of war. Can power be used for good? Both Les Miserables and The Kite Runner can be juxtaposed to show power, what it is, and what it can be used for. Les Miserables and The Kite Runner show that power is subjective, and has many different interpretations. Merriam-Webster dictionary has many definitions of power. Power could be considered the “ability to produce an effect,” or “physical might,” or even “possession of control, authority, or influence over others.” Wealth is a form of power. We see two different elements of this in both selections of literature. In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean, the former convict, uses wealth that he acquires under the name Mayor Madeleine to provide jobs for his constituents in a factory that he owns. Valjean used his power through wealth to empower many others to make their own wealth. This use of power is noble and just. Instead of giving others money or gifts, he gives them the gift of empowering themselves through sustainable work. This is a redeeming moment of Jean Valjean’s character, contrasting his past as a convict. Baba is the father of Amir, the protagonist in The Kite Runner. He is a man of great influence, and possesses a strong moral compass. Baba is a very well-written, realistic character. He is not restricted to good or bad, but blurs the lines. The way he uses his wealth is one of his better qualities meant to counteract some of his worse
Power is having the capability or qualification to do something or control something. The idea of power is often analyzed in the Truman Show and Animal farm. In the Truman Show, Peter Weir suggests that power can be bad and that people shouldn’t have power
Power can change people in a way that is incomprehensible either for good or for evil. Power can make one so greedy that someone will do anything for it and won’t let anyone, or thing stand in their way. Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays both the positive and negative uses on Power through the main characters. Macbeth’s greed of power allowed him to exercise abuse and ultimately he was corrupted and destroyed by power. Lady Macbeth used power in a positive way but her ultimate goal was domination of the Crown. Shakespeare uses dialogue and symbolism to allow his readers to engage with his mood and therefore the concepts of power.
Power is the ability to control people in their actions. It gives you leverage over others. Power is like a drug, the more we have the more we want. Power makes people think their unstoppable. Our history proves how power corrupts people.
Power is the ability to make people say and/or do things. It is the ability to get whatever you want. Power is necessary in any society, otherwise all would break loose; leaders must be established. When taken to an extreme, power is
As defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, power is the “possession of control, authority, or influence over others”. Power is frankly quite powerful when held in the hands of one person. It can cause a divide amongst families, countries, or even society for that matter. What really lies behind the true meaning of power is how it affects people, either negatively or positively. This ultimately causes people to feel differently depending on what is put into place by the one who holds the authority. Power can always be corrupt in many types of ways, but it can be more harmful to some than others and therefore does not affect everyone equally.
Baba helps the poor and is constantly giving to his community “Helped me build the house in Taimani…found me a job…barely knew me…like a brother to me” (Hosseini, 184). This tells one that Baba is a caring, helpful person and that Baba does not take advantage of his power.
Never was there ever a more ambiguous term than Power. To single out any one definition of power would limit the words potential, however, the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something, is succinct in entertaining its polysemic nature. Power is subjective to its holder, wether it be the individual, the people or the position. Through the quote, “I am not interested in Power for Powers sake. I am interested in power that is moral, that is right, that is good”, Martin Luther King Jr presents an ethical, just view of power, contrary to those explored in the texts Othello and 1984. Shakespeare and Orwell use specific literary devices to successfully portray the Power of the Individual, Power of Position and Power of
In The Kite Runner Amir feels estranged from Baba because he “killed” his mother in birth. Baba stresses the idea to Amir that“There is only one sin,only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is variation of theft” There constantly this underlying feeling a hatred between Baba and Amir, because Amir “stole” his mother from Baba. Some places in the book make the hatred seem very real while other places show the love Baba has for Amir was very evident.
Power is the ability to influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Power is something Mayella has, and her power helps to give her a big advantage over Tom. The the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Mayella has power because she is trying to convince the jury that Tom is guilty even though he is innocent. Because of her class, race, and gender she succeeds. Mayella has power based on her race, gender, and class.
He is the protagonist. Readers feel compassion for him. He is conflicted in many ways. He is jealous of the relationship and bond Baba has with Hassan. Yet he realises that Hassan is of the lower class in society.”I was going to win, and I was going to run that last kite. Then I’d bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy.” (Housini 53) He is very emotional and a storyteller. Baba, the father. He is considered a hero and a leader in Kabul. He is Amir’s father. They never really had a strong connection especially in afghanistan. Baba always exceeds the expectations of others, because of that he expects more out of his son. Baba also comes off as someone who lives by his own moral code. He is hiding a secret that he is afraid to tell. Hassan is amir's playmate and servant. He is also the son of Ali. Hassan felt like Amir was his friend but Amir never really thought of Hassan that way.
Power is the ability to control one’s own life or the lives of others. Many factors play into how much power a person has. Gender, race, and class are only three of the many limitations of social power. Harper Lee explores the topic of power in her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Mayella Ewell is a white girl, daughter to a poor family, and wins the case against Tom Robinson, a poor black man, because of her power. Mayella, despite having definite power in race, lacks power in class and gender.
In “The Kite Runner” the book seems to have a common theme of problems between father and son, but Amir and Baba have the most complex challenge, From the beginning of the book the reader finds out that Baba's wife and Amirs mom died during childbirth, this was one of the main reason why Baba and Amir didn't have such a loving relationship, probably because Baba blamed Amir for his wife's death, and another reason was because Baba wanted a son who was strong and loyal like Hassan but Amir was the exact opposite he was weaker and was a coward whose only interest was reading and writing here is an example “he’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream…I wasn’t like that.’ Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry” Baba was upset that Amir was not a copy of himself and was disappointed that he wasn't what he hoped his son would be like, this shows the complex relationship between Baba and
Power is a strong thing to have, yet some argue wether it’s a positive or a negative thing to hold. Power is by far a negative thing to have. Take Hitler and King Creon for example. THey both have power, but it’s negative towards the people it’s over.
Power can be defined in many ways. Most simply, it is the ability to get what you want.
People are judged; they are condemned by two words-civilized or barbaric. Yet, there are various components that coincide to make this perception. Society is not composed of a singular idea it is more so a coupling of ideas; society is interconnected. Gender decides the level of power and power decides who is rich. Abused power influences civilized or barbaric tendencies. The masses decide when power is abused and what is considered barbaric. A small faction of society believes differently from others creating this discord; that is why there is always opposition prevalent in society. In Les Miserables and The Kite Runner, there is strife happening in many relationships that display the aspects of society.